NSW man, child injured in blast after .50 caliber shell 'thrown onto fire'

A man and his young daughter have been injured after old ammunition exploded at a home near Port Stephens overnight.

The man in his 30s and a young girl suffered cuts in the explosion. Source: Seven Network

A man and a four-year-old girl have been injured after old ammunition – suspected to be a military .50 caliber shell - exploded at a home in NSW’s north.

Police said emergency services were called to the Mona Point Rd home in Anna Bay, north of Newcastle, about 10pm on Monday after reports of an explosion.

They said a 37-year-old man and a four-year-old girl had suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the blast.

A man in his 30s and a young girl suffered cuts in the explosion. Source: Seven Network

Paramedics treated the pair at the scene before taking them to the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

It’s believed the blast was triggered when old ammunition, including a military.50 caliber round, was thrown onto a fire at the property. Nine News has reported the man found the items on a nearby beach and took them home.

Police were called to the Anna Bay house after a blast injured the pair. Source: Seven Network

During WW2, nearby Stockton Beach was frequently used as a military bombing range, with RAAF pilots dropping unused or faulty bombs on the beach before landing at RAAF Base Williamtown. There have been reports of tourists and swimmers discovering unexploded ordinance on the beach into the mid-2000s.

Australian Army engineers were called in to ensure the situation was safe. Source: Seven Network

A NSW Police Force statement said “police have been working with specialist personnel from the Australian Defence Force overnight, and a number of items were removed from the home and rendered safe”.

Investigations are still ongoing.